Police appoint 17 new regional chiefs in antiterrorism drive
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police installed on Tuesday 17 generals as provincial police chiefs along with 10 other senior officials as provincial deputy chiefs, amid strong pressure to consolidate the institution to combat terrorism.
The ceremony, presided over by National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, was closed to the media.
Unlike previous inductions, which are limited to less than 10 top police officials, this year's induction included 17 provincial chiefs for, among other places, Central Java, East Java, North Sumatra, South Sumatra and Maluku.
However, National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo played down all speculation, citing that the induction was an ordinary "tour of duty".
"The replacements are in line with the needs of the institution, and will help them improve in their jobs and to face new challenges," Prasetyo told The Jakarta Post.
Police have come under mounting public pressure to reform the institution amid accusations that they have failed to uphold security in the country.
The fresh pressure stems from the Oct. 12 Bali bombing, which ripped through Kuta nightclubs on Bali. The carnage, which claimed more than 190 lives, mostly foreigners, has put the police under new pressure.
More than two weeks after the blasts, there has been little visible progress made by the inquiry team, led by the National Police. While many countries have accused al-Qaeda as being behind the terrorism, the police are still in the dark on the motive behind the bombings.
Pressure from the international community as well as the public is mounting on police to solve the case as soon as possible.
Many have blamed the police investigators' slow pace in solving other cases in the country coupled with an ineffective performance due to corrupt officials.
However, Prasetyo said the replacement of scores of high- ranking police officials had nothing to do with pressure from the public and the international community.
"There has been no pressure at all," Prasetyo said. "The National Police chief has the absolute authority to determine the allocation of human resources on the police force."
"It depends on where they are needed. Besides, many of them have been in their positions for a long time. Each region needs a fresh face," Prasetyo said.
However, in contrast to Prasetyo's statement of the need for institutional reform, officials in Bali were not replaced, even though they may have borne the brunt of blame in the recent bombings there.
Police did not replace high-ranking officials in Jakarta, West Sumatra, Jambi, Lampung, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara.
Names of provincial police chiefs installed on Oct. 30: Insp. Gen. I Dewa Ketut Gde Astika (North Sumatra), Brig. Gen. Deddy Sutardi (Riau), Insp. Gen. Didi Kusumayadi (South Sumatra), Sr. Comr. Andrian Daniel (Bengkulu), Brig. Gen. T. Asikin Husein (Southeast Sulawesi), Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida (West Java), Brig. Gen. Mochamad Saudi (Yogyakarta), Brig. Gen. Heru Susanto (East Java), Brig. Gen. Winarto (East Kalimantan), Brig. Gen. Suwantyawan Hadidojo (South Kalimantan), Brig. Gen. Sutomo Tjokro Atmodjo (West Nusatenggara), Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo (Papua), Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi (Central Java), Brig. Gen. Bambang Sutrisno (Maluku Police), Sr. Comr. Iwan Panji Winata (West Kalimantan), Sr. Comr. Taufik Ridha (Central Sulawesi), Brig. Gen. Jhon Lalo (North Sulawesi).